Terrell Davis fears CTE, but likes direction football is headed with player safety

Friday

Aug 4, 2017 at 5:58 PM

As the concern of brain injuries grows, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Terrell Davis isn't immune from those concerns but believes game is ultimately becoming safer than ever

Cliff Hickman CantonRep.com sports writer

CANTON Pro football players such as Terrell Davis are larger than life. The former Denver Bronco is a former 2,000-yard rusher and is a two-time Super Bowl champion. He is also a 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. That might make him seem invulnerable. Indestructible. Immortal.

Davis, though, knows he's not and there's something he fears: CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). A report from the medical journal JAMA in late July found 99 percent of the 111 deceased NFL players' brains donated to scientific research exhibited signs of CTE.

"Listen, I can't lie," Davis said. "We're all scared. We're all concerned. We don't know what the future holds."

CTE is caused by repeated blows to the head and can cause a variety of symptoms including memory loss, issues with judgement, enhanced aggression, feelings of depression, feelings of anxiety, loss of impulse control and even suicidal behavior. The disease currently is only diagnosed via autopsy and cannot be identified in a living patient.

Davis exhibits some symptoms and often wonders if what he is experiencing is natural or something more complicated.

"When I'm at home and I do something or I forget something, I stop and have a debate," Davis said. "I think to myself, 'Is this because I'm getting older and I'm not using my brain? Or is this because of something from football having on effect on me.' I don't know that."

The former running back tries to do as much as he can to ward off any effects of his playing days.

"I try to stay as active as possible," Davis said. "I also try to keep my mind as sharp as possible."

Despite his personal concerns, Davis believes that the game is safer than ever.

"I often get asked the question, 'Will you let your kid play football?' " Davis said. "I say, 'yeah, I would.' I think 10 years ago I wouldn't have said that."

He listed a variety of ways he believes player safety is being taken into account in ways it never was before.

"Now, I like the way they are teaching kids to tackle," Davis said. "I like the fact that they identify concussions faster and sit you out of play if they find one. Practices aren't as long. All of that stuff is helping the game of football. The game has gone through great lengths to change. It goes from Pop Warner all the way up to the pros."

It doesn't change the fact an element of risk remains. One that may never completely be removed. One that still nags in the back of Davis' mind.